Knockdown sandbox



April 23, 1953 E. s. HUTCHERSON KNOCKDOWN SANDBOX 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN l EA/TOI? EUGEA/E 5. HUTCHERSQM 6/ I *W z M in w 4 2, n 0 0 2 5 w 1 2 M n h w d e 5 l lllllu 2 1 F April 23, 1963 E. s, HUTCHERSON KNOCKDOWN SANDBOX 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 21, 1960 rir195.

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United States Patent 3,086,773 KNOCKDOWN SANDBOX Eugene S. Hutcherson, 6253 Rosebury Drive, St. Louis 5, Mo. Filed Jan. 21, 1960, Ser- No. 3,878 1 Claim. (Cl. 272-4) The present invention relates generally to play items for children, and more particularly to a novel knockdown sandbox.

There has long been the need for a simple, serviceable sandbox for children which can be readily shipped in knockdown form and easily assembled at the point of display or use, which is of metal in its major components, yet is of relatively light weight, which minimizes dropping of sand, yet is supported on spaced feet or legs, and which avoids sharp metal corners, edges and the like.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a novel metal sandbox for children which fulfills the long existing need as set forth in the preceding paragraph.

In brief, the present novel sandbox for children includes a reinforced metal floor, side Walls having bottom channels in which downturned edges of the bottom rest, seats, and supporting legs. The sandbox is readily assembled and disassembled through the use of suitable nuts and bolts, and screws.

Another object is to provide a novel sandbox for children of metal incorporating novel interfitting parts which, when assembled, provides a receptacle for sand, reducing to a minimum loss thereof by dropping through the bottom or along the sides.

Another object is to provide a novel sandbox for children the major components of which are of metal and of knockdown form to form a compact package for shipping and storage, yet which may be readily securely assembled at the point of display or use.

Another object is to provide a novel sandbox for children which is of sturdy construction and which is adapted for long use with substantially no maintenance requirements.

Other objects are to provide a novel sandbox for children which is relatively inexpensive, which is light weight, permitting ready handling, which is attractive in appearance, and which otherwise fulfills the objects and advantages sought therefor.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages are apparent from the following description taken with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a sandbox for children constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, portions of the seat members being broken away to illustrate the construction therebeneath;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of a view thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan view thereof;

FIGURE 4 is an end view thereof;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view taken on substantially the line 55 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged transverse cross-sectional view taken on substantially the line 6-6 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on substantially the line 77 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 8 is a further enlarged horizontal cross-sectional view taken on substantially the line 88 of FIG- URE 5 FIGURE 9 is a view of one side of one of the end panels, the center portion being broken away for conservation of space and a portion of one of the end flanges being in cross section for illustration of detail;

FIGURE 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on substantially the line Ill-10 of FIGURE 9;

IGURE 11 is a view of the juncture of a side panel Patented Apr. 23, 1963 and an end panel with a leg, the seat member being omitted;

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary w'ew illustrating details of a corner of the bottom member; and

FIGURE 13 is an isometric view of the upper portion of a leg member.

Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference numerals, 20 indicates generally a sandbox for children incorporating the principles of the present invention. Broadly, the sandbox 20 includes a bottom member 22, side members or panels 24, end members or panels 26, leg members 28, and seat members 30.

The bottom member 22 preferably is sheet metal formed to include depending side flanges 32 and end flanges 34 (FIGS. 5 and 6, respectively). As is clear from FIG- URE 12, the depending flanges 32 and 34 are cut away at the corners to facilitate fitting together of the parts, as is set forth below. Reinforcing strips 36 of Wood or other suitable material are secured beneath the bottom member 22 by screws 38 which extend through the flanges 32.

The two end members 26 are formed to the configuration clearly shown in FIGURES 9 and 10, each including a rolled upper edge portion 49, a returned lower flange 42 forming with the main body a channel 44, and end flanges 46 having apertures 48 therethrough.

Each side rnernber 24 includes a rolled upper edge portion 50, a returned flange 52 along the lower edge which forms a channel with the lower part of the main body of the side member 24, and vertically spaced apertures 54 near the ends (FIGS. 5, 6 and 8). The channel along the lower edge of each side member 24 is similar to the channel 44 along the lower edge of each end member 26 shown in FIGURE 10. It will be noted in comparing FIGURES 5 and 6 that the upper rolled portion 50 of each side mernber 24 is at a little higher elevation than the rolled upper edge portion 40 of each end member 26.

Both the side members 24 and the end members 26 may be formed with reinforcing ribs parallel with and adjacent to the rolled upper edge portions 50 and 40, respectively, and additional reinforcing ribs parallel with and adjacent to the top of the upper edges of the returned flanges 52 and 42, respectively.

As is clear from FIGURE 1.3, each leg member 28 includes a notch 56 at one upper corner and spaced apertures 58 therebelow.

It is manifest from FIGURES 5-7 that the bottom member 22 is supported with its downturned flanges 32 and 34 disposed in the channels of the end members 26 and the side members 24, respectively. A tight relationship is maintained between the flanges 3-4 and the channels of the side members 24 by the screws 38 which secure the reinforcing members 36 beneath the bottom member 12 and by additional metal screws 60 (FIGS. 6 and 7). Screws 62 are provided to maintain a similar firm relationship between the downturned flanges 32 and the channels 44 of the end members 26 (FIG. 5). Nut and bolt assemblies 64 secure the side members 24 and the end members 26 to the supporting legs 28, the bolt of each assembly 64 extending through the apertures 54 at the ends of each side member 24, the apertures 48 in the flanges 46 of the end members 26, and the apertures 58 in the legs 28, as is apparent from FIGURE 8. Wood screws 66 maintain the seat members 20 in position on the top portions of the leg members 18 (FIGS. 1 and 2). A reinforcing bracket may be used at each corner resting on the bottom 22 and secured against the adjacent portions of the respective side member 24 and end member 26.

It is apparent from the foregoing that the sandbox 30 can be readily and easily assembled and disassembled, the exact sequence being immaterial. Sand is maintained against sifting out by the flange and channel construction between the bottom member 22, the side members 24 and theend members-26: The rolled upper portions 40 and 50 provide both strength and safety.

The sandbox 20 fulfills the objects and advantages sought therefor.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description and theaccompanying drawing have been given by Way of illustration and example. It isal so to be understood that changes in form of the elements, rearrangement of parts, and substitution of equivalent elements, which will be obviousto those skilled in the art, are contemplated as within the scope of the present invention, which is limited'only by the claim whichfollow;

What is claimed is:

A sandbox comprising, in combination, supporting members,,side and end members mounted on saidsupporting members, each of. said side and end members having a rolled upper edge, each of? said side and end members having an integral return flange along the bottom edge forming a channel with the opposed main body, an integral bottom member having sides and ends corresponding to said side and end members, said sides and ends having depending flanges therealong disposed in said channels in supporting relation providing a leakproof bottom expanse and substantially leakproof joints between said side and endmembers and the'bottom member, eachsupporting member including a portion extending parallel to and beyond the end" of the adjacent side member, said portion including a horizontal upper surface substantially in a plane with the top of the adjacent end member, and a seat member removably mounted. on each opposed pair of upper surfaces and disposed over the end member therebetween.

References Cited in the" file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Albach July 5, 1932 

